Aug. 23, 2010

For the week ending August 22, rain fell during the week bringing some relief to crops stressed by high temperatures, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Crop maturity continues ahead of average. Temperatures for the week averaged 2 degrees above normal with highs that reached over 100 and lows in the low 50s. Rain fell in nearly all areas of the state.

Crops Condition

• Corn condition rated 2% very poor, 4% poor, 12% fair, 55% good, and 27% excellent, above a year ago. Irrigated fields were 83% good or excellent and dryland fields rated 81%. Corn in the dough stage was 95%, ahead of 75% last year and 85% average. Corn in the dent stage was 50%, ahead of 28% last year and the 45% average.
• Soybean conditions rated 2% very poor, 5% poor, 16% fair, 53% good, and 24% excellent, near last year. Soybean acreage setting pods was 95%, near 94% last year and equal to average. The first soybeans fields were turning color at 3%,near 2% last year and 4% average.
• Sorghum conditions rated 2% poor, 20% fair, 64% good, and 14% excellent, near last year. Sorghum headed was 98%, ahead of last year’s 87% and 91% average. Sorghum turning color was 20%, ahead of last year’s 6% but equal to average.
• Dry bean conditions rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 18% fair, 68% good, and 10% excellent. Acreage setting pods was 98%, ahead of 91% last year and 93% average. The first fields of dry beans were turning color at 5%, near 6% last year but behind 12% average.
• Alfalfa rated 2% very poor, 4% poor, 14% fair, 63% good, and 17% excellent. The third cutting of alfalfa was 83% complete, head of 68% last year and 73% average. The fourth cutting of alfalfa was underway at 3%, same as last year and near 2% average.
• Wild hay conditions rated 1% very poor, 2% poor, 9% fair, 69% good, and 19% excellent. Wild hay harvested was 97% complete, ahead of 89% last year.